Aquavalens project: Improving methods for pathogen detection through collaborative work across Europe

Transcription

1 Aquavalens project: Improving methods for pathogen detection through collaborative work across Europe independent trusted innovative Janis Eglitis, WRc

2 Wholesome drinking water must not contain any microorganism, parasite or substances at a level which could be a potential danger to human health, including where no standard has been set independent trusted innovative wrcplc.co.uk 2

3 Indicators Pathogens independent trusted innovative wrcplc.co.uk 3

4 Are current pathogen detection methods robust enough? Can methods be simpler, more cost and labour effective? Can analysis time be reduced? independent trusted innovative wrcplc.co.uk 4

5 Aquavalens = healthy water Feb 2013 to Jan partners: Small and medium size businesses, Universities Research institutes Multidisciplinary team from 13 countries across Europe: scientists, engineers, public health practitioners policy makers. Coordinator: University of East Anglia

6 Technology Provision by SMEs Introduction to Aquavalens Research project and background WP 2 Virology WP 3 Bacteriology WP 4 Parasitology WP 5 Source Tracking Cluster 1 Platform targets WP 6 Sample Preparation WP 8 Integration WP 7 Cluster 2 Platform development WP 9 Standardisation & Validation WP 10 Large Systems WP 11 Small Systems WP 12 Food Production Cluster 3 Field studies WP 13 Water Safety WP 14 Climate Change WP 15 Wider Impact Cluster 4 Improvement of Public health

7 WRc s role in Aquavalens WRc represented on the Executive Board responsible for delivering the project WRc leader of Cluster 3 on field testing and coordinating activities of 3 work-packages, each with several partners WRc responsible for conducting field trials in the UK

8 Trials at large scale water supplies July 2016 August sites across Europe Denmark, Germany, Spain and the UK (2 sites) independent trusted innovative wrcplc.co.uk 8

9 Field trials at large scale water supplies Technology Centers: 4 Large Systems: 2 Universities: 2 SMEs: 4

10 Some of the current standard methods Sample collection (filtration) Elution Centrifugation Immunomagnetic separation Staining Manual microscopy Sample collection Quanti tray / plate count/membrane filtration Incubation Manual enumeration E.Coli (and other bacteria) Sample collection Noroviruses Hepatitis A Protozoa

11 Aquavalens technology platform No. 1 Sample collection (filtration) Traditional approach Elution Amplification & Protozoa Secondary concentration Nucleic acid extraction Amplification & Viruses Amplification & Bacteria

12 Aquavalens technology platform No. 1 Sample collection (filtration) Elution Secondary concentration Nucleic acid extraction Amplification & Amplification & Amplification & Protozoa Viruses Bacteria

13 Aquavalens technology platform No. 1 Sample collection (filtration) Elution Secondary concentration Nucleic acid extraction Amplification & Amplification & Amplification & Protozoa Viruses Bacteria Source: idexx.fr

14 Aquavalens technology platform No. 1 Sample collection (filtration) Elution Secondary concentration Nucleic acid extraction Amplification & Amplification & Amplification & Protozoa Viruses Bacteria Source: selectscience.net

15 Signal amplification: polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

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17 Aquavalens technology platform No. 2 Fluorescence in-situ hybridisation (FISH) Sample collection (filtration) Elution Secondary concentration Staining Automated detection Bacteria (E.Coli and Campylobacter)

18 Aquavalens technology platform No. 3 substrate Enzyme active site Enzyme product complex Fluorescent light Substrate entering enzyme active site Enzyme Substrate Complex Enzyme Product Complex Enzyme converts its substrate to product The enzyme releases the product and bind again to another substrate molecule independent trusted innovative wrcplc.co.uk 18

19 Aquavalens technology platform No. 3: Online monitor: BACTcontrol 1. E.coli activity 2. Coliform activity 3. Total Activity 4. Enterococci activity Automatic sampling and enumeration Analysis time: reduced from >24h to 1hour

20 Aquavalens technology platform No. 4 Microbial Source Tracking (MST) Understanding the origins faecal contamination in waters Source: sourcetracking.me

21 Outline of experimental plan

22 Findings of the large scale water supply All of the treatment works monitored are robust! of Noroviruses improved One size does not fit all PCR platform improves detection in processed and treated waters (E.coli, Campylobacter) Future applications likely to require pre-monitoring optimisation of filtration volumes The capabilities of various laboratories, the characteristics of the treatment plants, the commercial availability of technologies require flexible approach

23 Findings of the large scale water supply Pathogen burden required for successful evaluation Protozoa detection techniques likely to require further investigations or development FISH method likely to require further development Online instrument Useful tool for coliform and total activity monitoring Further development on maintenance procedures required Microbial Source Tracking experimentally confirming the sources identified through surveys

24 Where do we go next?

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